Daybed Plans and Ideas

A daybed is one of the most versatile pieces of furniture you can own. You can use it as a bed for sleeping, a sofa for seating or combine the two and stretch out on the daybed to catch a daytime nap. Before you purchase a daybed, think about how you are going to use it. Plan your purchase based on the room you will put the bed in, and the size and style you need to accommodate those who will use the daybed most.

Planning for Guest Use

Opt for a daybed that is suitable for adults. It will be so much easier to add a couple of stuffed animals on top of the bed to give it a juvenile touch for young guests. A standard mattress will suffice if you have guests only occasionally. A wood or upholstered headboard is also a good choice for adults and children. A wrought iron or brass style can pose safety hazards for children. A trundle style is another good feature if children are frequent house guests.

Planning for Multipurpose Use

Space is usually a premium commodity for every household. You may not need or have a room to dedicate for guests. In that case, devise a multiuse plan for the daybed. Choose a daybed that can double as a sofa for use by all in the family. Put the daybed in a family room as a cozy place for everyone to watch television and to read bedtime stories to little ones. When overnight guests do drop by, you can easily make the daybed change "hats" for a night or two as a sleeper for guests.

Decorating Plans

Save money by selecting a daybed that matches your existing decor. Choose a daybed with a color or wood finish that coordinates with your current wall colors, linens and decor. If the room is warm and rustic, look for a wood daybed. If the room is modern and contemporary, use a daybed with clean lines, such as a black or white laminated daybed with storage drawers underneath.

Chaise-Style Daybed

A chaise style daybed will look good in a room with a sophisticated modern design. Look for a style with a leather or upholstered headboard and sidearms or a throwback style from the 1940s. Choose bedding that's bold and colorful so the chaise design structure will really stand out. Look for styles with unexpected ornamentation or carvings on the headboard. Find a rattan daybed to either tie in with an Asian- or Caribbean-inspired decor.

Sofa Sleeper Daybed

Studio and apartment dwellers can really get their money's worth out of a daybed. The key to this idea is to have two sets of top coverings -- one for day and one for night. Have cushions custom cut and upholstered to use the daybed as a sofa. This is a good example of when having drawers underneath the daybed will come in handy. You can store bed linens away during the day when the daybed is doubling as a sofa. You should also invest in a deluxe mattress for maximum comfort when sleeping.